Machine for milling pockets in curved stereotype plates



O. C. ROESEN Oct. 14, 1952 MACHINE FOR MILLING POCKETS IN CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 29, 1951 s mm..

lNvENTR m F. 0 :n R m 5 0 n ATTORNEY? O. C. ROESEN Oct. 14, 1952 MACHINE FOR MILLING POCKETS IN CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1951 INVENTOR 7742 ATTC'IF "4I-:Z

Oct. 14, 1952 o. c. RoEsEN 2,613,578

MACHINE FOR MILLING POCKETS IN CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed May 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet ."5

O. C. ROESEN Oct., 14, 1952 MACHINE FOR MILLING POCKETS IN CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed May 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 14, 1952 MACHINE FOR MILLING POCKETS IN CURVED STEREOTYPE PLATES Oscar C. Roesen, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Machinery Corporation, Plainfield, N. J., a corporation of Virginia.

Application May 29, 1951, Serial No. 228,924

Wood Newspaper 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a stereotype plate finishing machine, and more particularly to improvements in a machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent 2,364,032 whereby the ma* chine, in addition to being useful for shaving semicylindrical stereotype plates to the proper thickness, is also useful in providing a plurality of recesses or pockets along the inner surfaces of the opposite curved edges thereof.

The improved machine of this invention thus includes an inspection platform upon which the plates to be finished are initially placed, a shaving section wherein the stereotype plates are shaved to the proper thickness and recesses or pockets formed in their curved edges, and a cooling and drying section wherein the plates are finally prepared for delivery from the machine. The stereotype plates thus prepared are adapted to be secured to press cylinders by gripping elements that enter the recesses or pockets formed therein and hold the plates under longitudinal tension. The machine of the present invention forms the recesses or pockets which are adapted to receive the gripping elements of a press cylinder by milling them in the precast plates.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the type described which accurately and rapidly forms a plurality of pockets in the inner surfaces of the curved edges of stereotyped plates and performs this operation on a succession of such plates automatically. Furthermore it is an object of this invention to provide a semicylindrical, stereotype plate iinishing machine of this type in which the pockets are milled in a plate during the same operation in which the plate is shaved to proper thickness.

Another object is the provision of an improved machine of this type which is capable of shaving and forming pockets in a succession of plates with a high degree of accuracy and uniformity. A particular feature of the improved machine resides in the provision of but a single milling cutter for cutting a plurality of pockets in one curved inner edge surface of a stereotype plate and means whereby said single milling cutter is controlled to cut first one pocket and then another, and so on, until the full number of pockets in the curved edge of'the stereotype plate has been formed.

Another feature of importance is the provision of means in the improved machine for continually driving the plate shaving cutter and intermittently or continually driving the milling cutters. In this respect a further feature of the invention is the provision of automatic means whereby the milling cutters are driven only when a stereotype plate is in the shaving arch and are idle, whether or not the machine is operating, if a stereotype plate is not in the shaving arch. y

Another feature is that the shaving of the inner surfaces of the plates immediately precedes the milling therein of the pockets by reason of the fact that the milling cutters are supported upon and rotate with the shaving knife supporting bar but are supported thereon angularly to one side of the shaving knife, the knife bar being driven in a direction such that the shaving knife precedes the milling cutters.

Other objects, advantages and characteristic features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of certain embodiments of my improved machine. In describing this invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of my invention havel been illustrated and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation in section of a machine embodying my invention on line l-I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of va portion of the driving means for the knife bar and milling cutters on line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a portion ofthe machine illustrating more clearly one milling cutter;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the face of one of the cams by which the milling cutters are controlled to form successive pockets in the plate;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the machine on line -G of Fig. 2 and showing a stereotype plate located in the shaving arch;

Fig. 7 is a partial section illustrating one of the means for supporting the plate within the shaving arch in position to so support a plate therein but with no plate in the arch;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. l illustrating more clearly the means for controlling the shaving arch plate stop;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the milling cutters illustrating the pivotal mounting thereof; and

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic illustration of a Wiring circuit for controlling a magnetic clutch through which the milling cutters are driven.

Thema-chine as illustrated in Fig. l comprises three general sections, namely, an inspection platform and lead-in section A, a plate-shaving and pocket-milling section S and a cooling and drying section C. As indicated previously, the machine constitutes an improvement of the machine of United States Patent 2,364,032, the general layout thereof, as well as many parts, being the same as those of the machine of the patent. As these are fully disclosed and described in the patent, a description thereof will not be here repeated except when necessary to render a cornplete understanding of the present invention.

As cooling section C of the improved machine of this invention is identical to the cooling section of the machine of the patent, it need not be here described at all and is partially illustrated in outline only to indicate its presence in the present machine. The main frame of the machine includes a base IU and a shaving arch II which is preferably in part hollow to provide for the circulation of a cooling fluid I2 therethrough. The pedestal IEl is provided with a space to receive a hopper I3 in which may be collected the shavings and milling chips `as stereotype plates are being finished in the machine. At the right hand end of the machine, as seen in the abovementioned figures, is located an inspection platform I4 beneath and from which is hung a motor I5 by which all of the various parts of the machine are driven.

A knife bar I6 is supported concentrically and axially of the shaving arch II in a pair of thrust bearings I1 and I8. Thrust bearings Il and I3 include a plurality of taper bearings I9 which are held in position by pillow blocks, the latter in turn being secured as by bolts to the main frame of the machine. An extension 20 of the knife bar extends into and controls the passage of plates through the cooling section C of the machine.

At its upper or right hand end, as seen in Fig. 1, the knife bar I6 is provided with a hub or flange 2| and supports inwardly thereof a worm wheel 22 mounted on a sleeve 23 having a corresponding flange or hub 24. The worm wheel 22 and its supporting sleeve 23 are mounted for free rotation on the knife bar but are connected thereto through a driving connection comprising a shear pin 26 which extends through hub 2l of the knife bar as well as through the hub or ange 24 of the sleeve 23.

The operating power as above mentioned is provided by the electric motor I5 supported below the inspection platform I4. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the motor I5 has a drive shaft 39 supporting a pinion 3i which engages a spur gear 32 carried on a shaft 33 supported by bearings 34 within a housing or casing 35 which forms a part of the main machine frame. Between roller bearings 34, a worm 35a is secured to Shaft 33 which engages a worm wheel 36 carried on a shaft 3'! which also supports a .worm 38. Worm 38 meshes with and drives worm wheel 22 and thereby the knife bar I 6.

A pair of milling cutters 4B and 4I (Fig. 1) as will hereinafter be more fully described are pivotally or rockably supported on the knife bar I5 and are provided with driving power through a drive shaft 42 which is located axially within the knife bar IB in bearings 42 and which has secured to its upper or right hand end a bevel gear 43. A second bevel gear 44 mounted on the output shaft of a magnetic clutch 45 meshes with and provides driving power through gear 43 to the milling cutter drive shaft 42 when the magnetic clutch is energized as will also be hereinafter described. The input shaft 46 of the magnetic clutch supports on its outer end a bevel gear 4T which meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 48 secured t0 shaft 33 at the right hand end thereof as seen in Fig. l. Thus when the magnetic clutch is energized, the milling cutter drive shaft 42 is driven by the electric motor I5 because shaft 33, as heretofore explained, is driven by reason of spur gear 32 and pinion 3|. However, whereas the knife bar is continually rotated during operation of motor 4 I5, the milling cutter drive shaft 42 is driven only when magnetic clutch 45 is energized.

A plate stop 6D (Fig. 1) is mounted to surround the knife bar I6 adjacent thrust bearing I8 and for reciprocation transversely of the knife bar. This plate stop 69 maintains a stereotype plate in readiness for entrance into the shaving arch I I and is continually urged upwardly by a springurged member 6I which engages its lower end 62. Member 5I is supported by a shaft G3 secured by a bolt 6.4 to the main frame of the ina-- chine and has a collar 65 secured to it between which and the member 6I a spring 66 is maintained in compression. The lower end $2 of the plate stop G0 is also provided with a cam follower 6? adapted to engage the surface of a cam 6B secured to and rotated by knife bar IG. In Fig. 1 the plate stop 69 is illustrated in the position it assumes to hold a plate in preparation for admission to the shaving section S of the machine but at the proper point in the sequence of operation controlled by the rotation of the knife bar I6 the cam follower G1 and the plate stop are urged downwardly by the cam 68 against the resilient action of member 6I and permits a stereotype plate to pass on into the shaving section S of the machine.

A further plate stop 'ID is provided to limit the travel of a stereotype plate P entering the shaving arch S (Fig. 1). This plate stop is controlled by a solenoid 'II which, in turn, is energized or deenergized through a switch 'I2 located adjacent the lower or left hand end of the knife bar I6. Switch 'I2 is provided with leads 'I3 and 'I4 which are connected (by means not shown) to leads 'I5 and 'I6 of the solenoid 1I. Operation of the switch 'I2 is controlled by a cam 'Il (Figs. 1 and 8) the surface of which engages a cam follower 'I8 supported upon the actuating arm 79 of switch 12. Cam 'I1 is secured as by a key 11a to the knife bar I6. When the parts are in the position as illustrated in Fig. 8, the solenoid 'Il is deenergized and the plate stop 'Ill is maintained in its lower position by gravitational force to hold the stereotype plate P in the shaving arch. However, when the dwell 89 of the cam engages cam follower 'I8 of the switch '12, the switch is closed and the solenoid 'II energized to withdraw plate stop 'I0 to permit the plate P to leave the shaving arch. If desired, spring means may be employed to normally urge the plate stop 'I0 downwardly into plate-stopping position.

By reference now to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the means for urging a stereotype plate P firmly into the shaving arch I I will be described. This means is substantially identical to the corresponding means illustrated and fully described in the aforementioned United States Patent 2,364,032 and need not therefore be here repetitiously described in detail. Suffice it to say that it comprises a pair of lifter or toggle bars 9U adapted to engage the circumferential end edges of a plate P. The lifter bars 90 are supported on the upper ends of lifter rods 9I which in turn are supported by levers 92 secured to shafts 93. Also secured to shafts 93 are cams 94 having cam grooves 95 in which a roller or cam follower 96 rides. Cam followers 96 are supported on the lower ends of pinching fork levers 91 pivotally supported on fixed pivots 98 and pivotally supporting at their upper ends adjustable nut and bolt units 99 adapted to engage studs IDI) secured to lifter bars 9D. Through the above described mechanism, the lifting bars 90, byA engaging opposite edges of a plate P through ledge members IUI, urge plate P into the shaving arch `upon rotation of shafts 93. The operating lshafts 93 for the platelifting mechanism described are rotated back and forth by the cutter bar I6 through a spur gear |03 secured to its lower or left hand end (Fig. l) and through gears` |04 and |05, a cam |5| and a link |52 as more fully described in the aforementioned United States patent.

Referring again to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the lifting means for the right hand lower edge of the stereotype plate P there illustrated is nonresilient by reason of the direct connection between the right hand shaft 93 and the right hand lifter bar 90. However, the lifting means illustrated to the left in this figure is resilient in that the lifting rod 9| thereof extends through pivotal.

sleeve |06 free from connection therewith except through a compression spring |01 which engages a collar |08, on the lifting rod 9|, andthe sleeve |06. At its lower end, however, this lifting rod has threaded thereon a pair of lock nuts |09 and |L0, the upper one of which, namely,'lock nut |09 prevents the spring |01 from urging the lifting rod 9| out of the sleeve |06.

A normally closed micro-switch is xedly secured to the pivotal sleeve |06 and is adapted to be actuated or Aopened by member I2 extending from the lower end thereof. A plate ||3 having aswitch actuating member |4 adiustably secured` thereto is secured to the lower end of lifting rod 9| between lock nuts |09 and ||0. The micro-switch is adapted to control the energization of the magnetic clutch 45 which in turn controls the driving power supplied to the milling cutters 40 and 4| and furthermore is adapted to be energized only when a stereotype plate P is present in the shaving arch as described below. In an idle operation as illustrated in Fig. 7, that is, when the lifter bar 90 is raised with no plate P in the shaving arch the switch actuating member ||4 maintains the micro-switch open byengaging the actuating member ||2 thereof. Thus the magnetic clutch 45 is maintained deenergized so that the milling cutters 40`and 4| do not operate. On the other hand, when a stereotype plate P is clamped in the shaving arch as illustrated in Fig. 6, the lifter rod 9| is in a somewhat lower position and the compression spring |01 slightly more compressed. vlin this condition, the switch actuating member ||4 carried by the plate |3 is maintained out of engagement with member ||2 of the switch and the switch contacts are allowed to close, thereby energizing the magnetic clutch 45 and thus the milling cutters 40 and 4| to cut pockets in the plate P.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 there are a pair of lifting members adjacent one side of the shaving arch and thus there are two micro-switches which must be permitted to close in order to Venergize the magnetic clutch 45. A somewhat diagrammatic circuit drawing is illustrated in Fig. 10 showing the circuit containing the two micro-switches and the magnetic clutch 45.

`It willthus be apparent from the above that only when a plate is in the shaving arch for shaving and pocket-cutting will the milling cutters 40 and 4| be operated. The reason for this is, of course, that if high speed cutters, such as are the milling cutters to be more fully described below, are permitted to rotate during an idle operation of the machine, that is, when there is no plate in the shaving arch, the cutters may throw small chips of metal which are apt to stick tothe concave surface of the shavtach themselves to the plate and cause minute imperfections in printing. It is therefore important that the operation of the milling cutters be discontinued prior to removal of a stereotype plate from the shaving arch and not be initiated until another stereotype plate has been clamped therein.

It will also be apparent that, if desirable, plate-lifting means on both sides of the shaving arch may be provided with micro-switches and the operating members therefor, but it has been found that the provision thereof on the lifting means at but one side of the shaving arch is satisfactory.

Referring now to Figs. l, 4, 5 and 9, the milling cutters and the operating control means therefor will be described. As both are the same, only milling cutter 40 and its operating controls need be described in detail. In Fig. 4 milling cutter 40 is shown in enlarged section and comprises a casing |20 in which is supported a shaft or spindle |2| in bearings |22 and |23. The casing |20 of the milling cutter 40 is supported (Fig. 9) by trunnions |25 and |26 pivotally mounted in bearings |21 and |28, respectively, which are ilxedly secured to the knife bar I6. Thus the milling cutter 40 is supported for pivotal movement in a plane radial to the axis of the knife bar and extending longitudinally of the arch. Spindle |2| supports on its outer end a cutter head |24 which may thus be moved into engagement with a curved edge of stereotype plate P to cut therein a pocket, or pockets. A shield |30 prevents chips from entering the casing |20.

On the end of the shaft |2| opposite the end which supports the cutter |24 is mounted a cam follower |29 which is adapted to ride in the cam-way |3| of a cam |32 secured against rotational movement by being secured to the main frame of the machine by a plurality of bolts |33. The shape of the cam path |3| is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 and is provided with four dwells |34, |35, |35 and |31 which cause the milling cutter housing |20 to be rocked four times in one revolution of the knife bar I6 whereby four pockets |38 are formed in the inner surface of the adjacent curved edge of the stereotype plate P.

The driving means for the cutter head |24 of the milling cutter 40 comprises a bevel gear |40 secured to the shaft |2| which supports the cutter head |24, a bevel gear |4| meshing therewith and supported on the inner end of the trunnion |25 and a bevel gear |42 which is supported upon a shaft |43 extending through a removable member |44 secured to the knife bar I6, the bevel gear |42 continually meshing with the bevel gear |4|. At the lower end of the shaft |43 is secured a bevel gear |45 which meshes with a bevel gear 14S secured to the milling cutter drive shaft 42. It will be apparent by reference to Fig. 4 that the driving force from drive shaft 42 is continually provided to the cutter |24 through the above described gearirg in all pivotal positions of the milling cutter It should perhaps be pointed out by reference to Fig. 6 that the knife bar I6 is rotated in such a direction that a shaving blade |50 supported thereon precedes the milling cutters in their passage through a plate containing arch. The reason for this will be obvious, it is believed,

in that were the' pockets milled or cut in the plate prior to the shaving thereof, the edge of the shaving `lrnife 58 might engage the edges of the pockets and imperfectly shave the plate.

After a stereoype plate has been shaved to the desiredthickness in the shaving section S of the machine and has had the recess or pockets {38 formed therein in this section, the plate will be automatically released from the shaving arch and passed on to the cooling and drying section C of the machine as is fully and clearly described in the aforementioned United States Patent 2,364,032.

I claim:

l. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces of curved steretoype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, and means for rocking` said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch.

2. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces of curved steretoype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm upon said rotary shaft for rotation therewith and to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, and means for rocking said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch.

3. In a machine for millingI pockets in the interior surfaces of curved stereotype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm upon said rotary shaft for rotation therewith and to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, means for rocking said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch, and a plate-shaving knife supported on said rotary shaft and extending axially of said arch.

4. In a machine for millingv pockets in the interior surfaces of curved stereotype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a rotary cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm upon said rotary shaft for rotation therewith and to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a rotary drive shaft for rotating said cutter arm, said drive shaft being supported concentrically within said rotary shaft, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, and means for rocking said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch.

5. In a machine for milling pockets in the inte- Irior surfaces of curved steretoype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the-combination with a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a rotary cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm for rotation and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, means for rocking said cutter arm to move said cutter-,toward and away from said arch, and means for rotating said cutter arm and cutter.

6. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces of curved stereotype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a rotary cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means for maintaining a steorotype plate in said supporting arch, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on said cutter arm for rotation and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, means for rocking said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch, means for rotating said cutter arm, and means responsive to said means for maintaining a stereotype plate in said arch, when a plate is supported in said arch, for causing the operation of said means for rotating said cutter arm and cutter.

'2. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces of curved stereotype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination With a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on one end of said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, a cam follower supported on the other end of said cutter arm, and a cam engaging said cam follower and adapted to rock said cutter arm to move said cutter toward and away from said arch.

8. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces of curved stereotype plates adjacent the curved edges thereof, the combination with a plate-supporting arch and a rotary shaft extending axially of said arch of a cutter arm extending longitudinally of said arch adjacent one end thereof, means pivotally supporting said cutter arm upon said rotary shaft for rotation therewith and to swing in a plane extending longitudinally of said arch, a cutter mounted on one end of said cutter arm and movable thereby toward and away from said arch, a cam follower mounted on the other end of said cutter arm, and a cam xedly mounted on a stationary part of said machine and engaging said cam follower to rock said cutter arm during rotation of said rotary shaft.

OSCAR C. ROESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,364,032 Wood Nov. 28, 1944 2,531,647 Roesen Nov. 28, 1950 

